Device and method for heating hair curlers

ABSTRACT

A hair curler heating system, is disclosed comprising a hair curler having a ferro-magnetic core, a plastic outer shell, an insulator therebetween, and a housing for receiving said curler and for heating it therein. The housing includes an induction coil, a control circuit operatively connected to the coil, a resonant capacitor operatively connected to the circuit, a heat sink connected to the capacitor, and a colored heating indication panel attached to the housing and operatively connected to the circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a novel type of hair curler. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for heating hair curlers. In particular, the present invention relates to an aesthetically pleasing system for professional and consumer use for heating rollers used for curling hair that is safe, easy, and quick to use.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional hair curling roller sets usually have one base set with all of the rollers lined up in the heating station. Typically, one turns on the heating station and the entire set of rollers heat up at the same time. The rollers cannot be used until the maximum temperature has been reached, which can take from 2 to 5 minutes. Once the rollers are hot, they are removed from the heater and hair is round about them.

Having a small army of heated rollers in a heating station, whether at home or at a salon is dangerous to both professionals and the consumer. The rollers can be upended or knocked over with the result of persons and items burned by the heated rollers. Further, the heating station also heats up, which can also be a safety hazard for home use, especially if there are young children in the household.

There is therefore a great need in the art for an aesthetically pleasing system for professional and consumer use for heating rollers used for curling hair that is safe, easy, and quick to use. Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved device and method for heating hair curlers effectively overcoming the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in heating hair curling rollers. These problems have been solved in a simple, convenient, and highly effective way by which to heat the hair curlers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a hair curler is disclosed comprising a first conical member having slits extending therearound a second conical member fitting substantially within the first conical member consisting essentially of silicon, and a third conical member fitting substantially within the second conical member comprising a ferro-magnetic material. A first end cap fits on the end of the first conical member having substantially concentric slits therein and a second end cap fits on the end of the third conical member having substantially concentric slits therein.

According to another aspect of the invention, a hair curler heater is disclosed comprising an upper, middle, and lower housing. An induction coil is positioned between the upper and the middle housing and a control circuit is operatively connected to the coil. A resonant capacitor is positioned between the middle and the lower housing. A heat sink is connected to the capacitor and a colored heating indication panel is attached to the upper housing and operatively connected to the control circuit.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a hair curler heating system, is disclosed comprising a hair curler having a ferro-magnetic core, a plastic outer shell, an insulator therebetween, and a housing for receiving said curler and for heating it therein. The housing includes an induction coil, a control circuit operatively connected to the coil, a resonant capacitor operatively connected to the circuit, a heat sink connected to the capacitor, and a colored heating indication panel attached to the housing and operatively connected to the circuit.

Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. The foregoing aspects of the invention describe certain embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention as further described and claimed herein.

The method and apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal top view of the curler heater of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the curler heater of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the curler heater of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the curler heater of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic drawing of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the curler of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. A device and method for heating hair curlers is disclosed herein.

The curler heater of the present invention 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 shows an upper housing 1 a, typically having a diameter of 185 mm, a middle housing 1 b, typically having a diameter of 185 mm or 175 mm, with height of 35 mm, and a lower housing 1 c, typically having a diameter of 175 mm. A silicon ring, typically an o-ring, separates the housings from each other.

As specifically illustrated in FIG. 3, a first silicon ring 2 a separates the upper housing 1 a from the middle housing 1 b and another, second silicon ring 2 b separates the middle housing 1 b from the lower housing 1 c. Screws 14 connect the housings together. Cap 13 provides an aesthetically pleasing covering.

A heating indication panel 3 is attached to the upper housing 1 a. The indication panel 3 may be one or many LEDs. Typically, this indication panel 3 indicates the sufficiency of heat applied to a curler by a color-coded indication. For example, it may indicated that a curler is sufficiently heated by turning green. Alternatively, it may display a red color when power is applied and thereafter turn green when a curler is sufficiently heated. A further alternative may include a range of colors or indication lights showing a gradation of temperature achieved by the curler. For example, a four color changing indicator may be used which tells the user how much heat energy the roller has left, making predictable judgments for hair styling purposes. When all four sections change color, the curler has reached its maximum temperature. Three illuminated sections may mean the curler has reached 75% of heat output. Two illuminated sections may mean the curler has reached 50% of heat output. If only the last section is lit, it may mean that the curler has reached 25% of heat output.

As shown specifically in FIG. 4, a coil frame 4 forms a well 4 a designed to receive a hair curler that is desired to be heated. The coil frame 4 also supports an induction coil comprising windings of wires therearound.

Attached to the lower housing 1 c is an on/off switch 5 for applying and disconnecting power to the heater.

A wire coil 6 is wound about the coil frame 4 for creating an induction coil. The wire coil 6 typically includes multiple strands (for example, 20 strands) of enameled insulated wires. The wires are typically 0.3 mm in diameter and are twisted and wound upon the coil frame in a diameter of, for example, 100 mm with a typical thickness of 3 mm and length of 63 mm. The number of turns about the coil may vary, but are typically 26-28 turns.

A control circuit 7 is operatively connected to the wire coil 6. The control circuit may be typically a printed circuit board. This print-circuit board comprises:

A micro-switch 8 connects the control circuit 7 to the coil frame 4. A resonant capacitor 9 is positioned between the middle housing 1 b and the lower housing 1 c and is operatively connected to the circuit board. The coil 6 is connected in parallel with the resonant capacitor 9 to create a resonant circuit. A heat sink 10 is housed in the lower housing 1 c and is connected to the capacitor 9. Power to the heating unit 1 is supplied by a power cord connected to a suitable electrical connection 11 positioned in the lower housing 2 c.

Because the device heats only conductive materials, risk of burns to users, for example, by accidental insertion of a hand into the well, is eliminated.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the electrical system of the present invention. The present invention is mainly designed to make on-off control on the resonant circuit by means of an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Driven by the resonant circuit, the inductors form a high-frequency alternating current. The varying electric current passing through the inductors will generate varying magnetic lines of force, thus forming a magnetic field. Eddy currents inducted by magnetic lines of force are formed on the outer wall of a ferrous hair curler, and the electric impedances of these eddy currents against the ferrous hair curler convert electric energy into heat energy.

The circuit may also be adapted to limit the temperature of curlers placed in the device.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a hair curler 30 of the present invention for being heated in the curler heater 1. A first conical member 12 has slits 15 extending therearound. Typically, self grip tape is used with the first conical member 12 for grabbing the hair just enough so that the fine hair is not snagged or teared.

A second conical member 16 fits substantially within the first conical member 12. The second conical member 16 consists essentially of silicon. A third conical member 18 fits substantially within the second conical member 16. The third conical member 18 comprises a ferro-magnetic material. A first end cap 20 fits on the end of the first conical member 12 and has substantially concentric slits 22. A second end cap 24 fits on the end of the third conical member 18 and also has substantially concentric slits 26 therein. A hair clamp 28 typically holds the wound hair to the hair roller. The hair clamp helps the hair rollers to retain heat and also to set the rollers in place.

Typically, there are six sizes of hair curlers (in diameters of 26 mm, 32 mm, 38 mm, 46 mm, 52 mm and 58 mm). They are made of stainless iron sheet in thickness of 0.1 mm and length of 60 mm. Each hair curler has silicon film added to the exterior in a typical thickness of 1-1.5 mm, covered with nylon self grip tape, with its top and bottom being covered with polycarbonate plastic. Each size of roller will retain the same temperature of heat and for the same amount of time, controlled by the insulator inside the roller.

Example

It is to be understood that the following example of the present invention is not intended to restrict the present invention since many more modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

In operation, an embodiment of the present invention operates as follows. When the power supply is switched on and two pole switches are turned on, power is on shown by a red display. When a big or small heat conducting heating curler is put into the well, a micro-switch in the well will be activated. If any ferromagnetic material is detected, a green lamp will blink and send an acoustic signal and will apply a high-frequency alternating current to the inductors. A magnetic field will be thus be generated in the well. If there is ferromagnetic material within the range of magnetic field, high frequency eddy currents will be generated in the magnetic field. Under the effect of the eddy currents, the heat conducting hair curler containing ferromagnetic material will generate heat. When the green lamp stops blinking and the acoustic signal ends, the heating has been stopped. The heat conducting hair curler can then be removed for use. Since the high frequency eddy current is still left in the heat conducting hair curler, it will slowly raise the temperature. When the temperature indicators have started to change color slowly (all four grids change color), it means that the heat conducting hair curler can no longer be heated until the four grids have turned to their primary colors.

The total time for registering whether an object in the well contains iron is typically 4 seconds. The total time for heating the curlers is typically 4 seconds.

The quick instant heat up of induction heating allows the user to place the curling roller into the heating well, wait for a total of 8 seconds, take the roller out and place another roller into the well in preparation for the next roll. The present invention heats up one roller at a time, eliminating the risk of having heated rollers sitting around. The roller is always freshly heated for styling.

The induction of the present invention also allows the roller to reach the maximum temperature not at the time of applying the hair roller, but shortly afterwards. This allows the user sufficient time to handle a mildly heated roller instead of a piping hot roller.

Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in the heating hair styling arts to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A hair curler, comprising: a first conical member having slits extending therearound; a second conical member fitting substantially within said first conical member consisting essentially of silicon; a third conical member fitting substantially within said second conical member comprising a ferro-magnetic material; a first end cap fitting on the end of the first conical member having substantially concentric slits therein; and a second end cap fitting on the end of the third conical member having substantially concentric slits therein.
 2. The curler of claim 1, wherein the first conical member includes a frictional surface for adhering hair thereto.
 3. The curler of claim 1, wherein the second conical member is an insulator.
 4. The curler of claim 1, wherein the third conical member is adapted to be heated from an inductive heat source.
 5. A hair curler heater, comprising: an upper, middle, and lower housing; an induction coil positioned between said upper and said middle housing; a control circuit operatively connected to said coil; a resonant capacitor positioned between said middle and said lower housing; a heat sink connected to said capacitor; and a colored heating indication panel attached to said upper housing and operatively connected to said control circuit.
 6. The heater of claim 5, further including a first o-ring interposed between said upper housing and said middle housing and a second o-ring interposed between said middle housing and said lower housing.
 7. The heater of claim 6, further including a receptacle for heating a hair curler therein.
 8. The heater of claim 7, wherein said indication panel includes at least two colors for indicating if a hair curler heated therein is ready for use.
 9. The heater of claim 8, wherein said indication panel includes a plurality of colors for indicating the heat of a hair curler heated therein.
 10. The heater of claim 9, wherein said capacitor includes a resonant circuit associated therewith.
 11. A hair curler heating system, comprising: a hair curler having a ferro-magnetic core, a plastic outer shell, and an insulator therebetween; a housing for receiving said curler and for heating it therein, wherein said housing includes: an induction coil; a control circuit operatively connected to said coil; a resonant capacitor operatively connected to said circuit; a heat sink connected to said capacitor; and a colored heating indication panel attached to said housing and operatively connected to said circuit.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said core, said shell, and said insulator of said curler are conical.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said shell has slits extending therearound and includes a frictional surface for adhering hair thereto.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said core comprises a ferro-magnetic material.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said curler further comprises a first end cap fitting on the end of said shell having substantially concentric slits therein and a second end cap fitting on the end of said core having substantially concentric slits therein.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said housing includes an upper, middle, and lower housing, a first o-ring interposed between said upper housing and said middle housing and a second o-ring interposed between said middle housing and said lower housing.
 17. The system of claim 16, further including a receptacle for heating said hair curler therein.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said indication panel includes at least two colors for indicating if a hair curler heated therein is ready for use.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said indication panel includes a plurality of colors for indicating the heat of a hair curler heated therein.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said capacitor includes a resonant circuit associated therewith. 